I&T Solution

Reference No.

S-0813

Solution Name

LiDAR-based Over-Height Vehicle Detection System

Solution Description

This solution installs LiDAR at bridge/tunnel entrances or waste dumping halls to scan the height of approaching vehicles in real time. When the system detects a vehicle's height exceeds the preset limit, it immediately triggers flashing warning signs and voice announcements to alert the driver to stop or take a detour. It can also interface with smart traffic signal systems to prevent over‑height vehicles from striking bridges, tunnel portals, or indoor ceiling structures, effectively reducing infrastructure damage and traffic accidents.

Application Areas

City Management

Environment

Infrastructure

Transport

Technologies Used

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Building Information Modelling

Cloud Computing

Computer Vision

Data Analytics

Deep Learning

Image Recognition

Internet of Things (IoT)

Machine Learning

Video Analytics

Use Case

How to Improve Public Services Hong Kong has a dense road network with numerous height restriction structures on flyovers, tunnels, and road tunnels. Container trucks, tourist buses, and heavy goods vehicles frequently misjudge their vehicle height and collide with steel structures, firefighting pipes, or ventilation equipment beneath bridges, causing severe traffic disruptions, structural damage, and even casualties. Traditional height warning signs rely on drivers' attention, which is limited at night or in adverse weather, and cannot provide proactive alerts.

This solution installs LiDAR at critical bridge entrances, tunnel approaches, and refuse collection halls to scan the profile and height of approaching vehicles at hundreds of times per second. When the system detects a vehicle exceeding the height limit, it triggers flashing warning signs, variable message signs (VMS), and voice broadcast within milliseconds, clearly instructing the driver: "Overheight – please leave immediately." At the same time, the system can interface with traffic signals to turn the lane ahead to red for mandatory stopping, or activate automatic number plate recognition to record violating vehicles for enforcement follow‑up. This proactive early warning mechanism effectively prevents vehicles from striking bridges, significantly reducing infrastructure damage and secondary accident risks.

Benefits

Protection of critical infrastructure: Prevents damage to flyovers and tunnel structures, reduces emergency repairs and road closures that affect traffic, and ensures smooth daily commutes for the public;

Enhanced road safety: Provides real‑time warnings to drivers, preventing collisions that could cause vehicle rollovers or debris scattering, which may endanger pedestrians and nearby buildings; and

Reduced enforcement and management burden: The system automatically records the time, license plate and images of overheight events, serving as evidence for prosecution, reducing manual stop‑and‑check efforts and post‑incident investigation costs

If any government department would like to conduct PoC trial or technology testing on the I&T solution, please contact Smart LAB.